• Title
  Portrait of Sarah Banks, by John Russell R.A.
• Creator
  John Russell, 1745-1806
• Call number
  ML 1576
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  1790
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Paintings
• Reference code
  9664178
• Physical Description
  1 painting - visible image 59.7 x 44.3 cm, in frame 77 x 61.5 cm - pastel on paper, stretched over linen on a strainer, in original gilt frame
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Sarah Banks (née Bate) (1719-1804) married William Banks in 1741 and together they had two children, Joseph Banks (1743–1820) and Sarah Sophia Banks (1744-1818).
  
  John Russell (1745-1806) an English artist, trained under  Francis Cotes  RA, one of the pioneers of English pastel painting, and set up his own studio in London in 1767. In 1788 Russell was elected a  Royal Academician, in the same year painting a portrait of Sir Joseph Banks. In approximately 1789, Joseph Banks initiated a major commission of the members of his immediate family, including this portrait of Sarah Banks painted by Russell.
  
  References:
  "Portrait of Sarah Bate, Mrs William Banks, by John Russell R.A." Hordern House. Accessed 18 March 2022. https://www.hordern.com/pages/catalogue/709/portrait-of-sarah-bate-mrs-william-banks
  "John Russell, R.A. Portrait of Sarah Bate, Mrs William Banks (1719-1804)", Sotheby's. "Late Countess of Mountbatten of Burma" sale, London, lot 151. Accessed 22 March 2022. https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/the-family-collection-of-the-late-countess-mountbatten-of-burma/portrait-of-sarah-bate-mrs-william-banks-1719-1804
  Gilbert, L.A. "Banks, Sir Joseph (1743–1820)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Accessed 18 March 2022. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/banks-sir-joseph-1737
• Collection history
  Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) then to his wife Dorothea, Lady Banks (née Hugessen) (1758-1828); then her nephew Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Bt (1781-1849). At the time of George C. Williamson’s catalogue raisonné of Russell’s work (1894) the painting was still the property of Knatchbull’s daughter-in-law, Lady Brabourne, remaining in the family by descent until 2020. The portrait was sold at the Sotheby’s "Late Countess of Mountbatten of Burma" sale, London, lot 151, on 24 March 2021.
• Scope and Content
  Pastel portrait depicting Sarah Banks.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• Copying Conditions
  Out of copyright:
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
• Variant title
  
  Portrait of Sarah Bate, Mrs William Banks
• General note
  
  Title devised by cataloguer based on image
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Signed and dated upper right: "J. Russell R.A. pt 1790"
  Plaque affixed to frame, lower centre, "Sarah Bate / mother of Joseph Banks"
  In ink, on label, verso lower right, "125, Sarah Bate, mother of Sir J. Banks"
  In ink, on label, verso lower left, "Lady Brabourne drawing, 125"
  Typescript and manuscript label, verso lower centre, "Royal Academy of Arts / Winter Exhibition, 1954/55 - 18th Century / Artist John Russell / Title Mrs. Banks. / Name and address of owner, The Right Hon. Lord Brabourne, Newhouse Mersham, Ashford Kent"
• Subject
  Banks, Sarah, 1719-1804--Portraits.
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE20524180

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